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Parallel parking is scary. And not just to beginners - many experienced drivers never fully conquer their fears. But it is a very useful procedure to know: parallel parking is a big part of your driving test, and being able to do it will pay off more than a couple of times throughout your life. And you’ll look so cool as you easily maneuver your car into that small parking spot! It doesn’t matter if you’ve already tried and failed or if you’re a complete novice: with the right attitude and effort, you’ll be P-parking like a professional in no time!

To start, here’s what it’s all about: parallel parking is a method of parking in line with, or parallel to the curb, commonly lined up bumper to bumper with other vehicles. This is most often encountered in large metropolitan areas, where there are few parking lots and street parking is the norm. Parallel parking is required knowledge for the drivers license exam, since you will be tested on your abilities. There are states, such as Ohio, which implement a “maneuverability test” instead, but this is basically parallel parking inside of a traffic cone formation instead of with other cars - so the same rules apply.

If you feel intimidated, don’t be! Start simple, and work your way up as you become more comfortable and confident in your abilities. Each person learns on their own timeline, so don’t tell yourself that you haven’t “got it” or that your hand-eye coordination stinks - you CAN do it. Keep practicing and the procedure eventually will become second nature. It does take time, but gets a little easier with every session. Before you know it, you’ll be maneuvering like a pro!

Ready? Here are the general rules for parallel parking:

1. Find a space that’s a few feet longer than your car that you feel confident about parking inside.

2. Use your turn signal and drive up next to the car that’s in front of the space so that you are 2-3 feet away from it. Align your car’s back bumper with theirs.

3. Check your mirrors and look over your shoulder to ensure that there are no vehicles behind you, then step on the brake and put the car in reverse.

4. Gently remove your foot from the brake. When your car starts to roll backwards, turn the steering wheel all the way in the direction of the curb. The car should now be reversing towards the curb at an angle. (If you think the angle’s not working, you can always shift into drive and begin again.)

5. When your car’s rear is inside the space, spin the steering wheel all the way in the other direction to straighten your wheels.

6. Center your car into the parking spot until you’re parallel to and no less than one foot from the curb. If necessary, drive slightly forward to even out your wheels. You’ve done it!

You’ll have to adapt these rules to your situation, of course - the more space you have to park, the simpler it will be.. and vice versa. Also, there are variables like how sharply you’ll need to steer your wheel to get the correct angle, which all depends on your unique vehicle.

Whatever you do, don’t start off by trying to parallel park on a busy road - it’s very anxiety-provoking! So here’s an induction plan you can use to build up your confidence, move up only when you feel more than ready:

- Find a quiet road or parking lot, and just practice parking beside an empty curb.

- Park behind ONE parked car.

- Look for two parked vehicles that are far enough apart where you feel comfortable parking in between them. (Find a street that’s not too busy for this)

- Park between cars that are closer together until you’re able to do it in spaces that no less than one and a half times the length of your car.

Though it may seem hard at first, you can and will be among the many drivers who parallel park without a sweat. All it takes is a little effort. So what’s your excuse? Go out and master the maneuver of parallel parking!